'9 Bullets' is an action thriller that follows Gypsy, a recently retired burlesque dancer who must go on the run to save a neighbour boy who is pursued by Gypsy’s ex. The film opens on Gypsy’s last show whilst simultaneously showing Sam, a small boy being called by his father, telling him the family is going on the run. On the way to meet his parents, Sam witnesses them being executed by Jack’s lackeys. Confused, Sam hides at Gypsy’s house who finds him there. Knowing that Jack is a relentless and unforgiving man, Gypsy and Sam set out to go to Sam’s uncle, where the boy can be safe.
The two set off, but are constantly pursued by Jack’s men. Wanting to speak to him, Gypsy meets with Jack to negotiate Sam’s safety. The two end up sleeping together, but do not reach an amicable solution to Sam’s situation. On the road again, Sam and Gypsy get to know each other, with Gypsy revealing she wants a fresh start and is writing a book in pursuit of that. As the two talk, Gypsy realises Sam’s father stole money from Jack, and Sam had used it to trade in cryptocurrency, making a large profit.
On reaching Sam’s uncle, Gypsy has a change of heart about Sam, and the two decide to stay together. Soon after, Jack’s men catch up to them, and Gypsy is shot down. As she regains consciousness, after having survived the gunshot wounds, Sam tells her the stolen money and profits had been returned to Jack, with him having kept a nest egg for the two. The film closes on the two driving off, resolving to keep one step ahead of Jack and to stick together.
‘9 Bullets’ is a movie that gives the impression of an action flick – it has a seemingly high-stakes plot at its centre, yet it never quite manages to reach any meaningful sense of dread or suspense. Gypsy and Sam’s journey is interrupted by Jack’s men on a few occasions, yet there is no sense of threat or danger from them. Gypsy mentions that they’re highly skilled mercenaries, yet we’re never given that impression, especially as we’re shown them getting lost and bumbling in the general direction of where Gypsy and Sam are.
The core of the story is Gypsy and her relationship with Sam. Gypsy does not hide that she has a hard time being around kids, due to her traumatic experience of losing her child, as Sam tries to befriend her. From the outset, it is clear that the film will centre around the two as they deepen their bond, yet every attempt at showing them connect somehow grinds the film to a halt, as the two push through paint-by-the-numbers character beats in revealing their past, hurt feelings and emotional obstacles they’re yet to overcome.
Besides the generic narrative, the film seems to rush from one scene to the next, never quite developing their characters motivations, leaving the viewing audience in the dark about where the story may lead next. The opening of the film shows us Sam lose his parents, yet somehow the child seems to move on pretty quickly, with little trace of the grief hanging over him for the remainder of the film. As for Gypsy, she mentions a ‘fresh start’, yet we’re never invited into exploring her past, what has made her want to make a drastic change in her life, and what wrongs she may want to right going forward.
The main players of the feature include Lena Headey, Dean Scott Vazquez and Sam Worthington, as Gypsy, Sam and Jack respectively. Whit two seasoned actors at the helm, Headey and Worthington do their utmost with what they’re given, but their efforts seem to do little in terms of improving the overall picture.
‘9 Bullets’ is a lackluster movie that gives the impression of an action thriller, but lacks the intensity of an action film or the suspense of a thriller. Seemingly cobbled together in a rush, the film jumps from one set to another, with questionable character motivations and abrupt narrative developments that serve to propel forward a predictable story with nothing new to offer.
Sore: 1/4
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